Shoe lacing



Dec.a 4 1923. 1,476,348 T. W. MILLER SHOE LACING Filed 0G12. 17. 1922desire Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

THOMAS W. MILLER, OF ASHLAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE FAULTLESS RUBBERCOM- PATENTy orrlca.

PANY, OF ASHLAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO,

SHOE IMAGING.

VApplication led October 17, 1922. Serial No. 595,160.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ashland, county of Ashland, State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Lacings, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to shoe lacings, and has for its object to providean improved article of this character as hereinafter more definitelywill be pointed out and claimed, reference bein had to the accompanyingdrawing, in w ich Figure l is a perspective view of one form of myimproved lacing, shown in packet form. v

Figure 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of one end of saidlacing.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified construction oflacing.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of said modified construction.

Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figure 2 of the modifiedconstruction shown in Figure 4, taken at right angles to each other.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of said modified construction. l

Similar numerals of reference denote 'corresponding parts in'the severalviews.

In the said drawing, referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3,it will be seen that my improved lacing 1 embodies a central core 2 ofsome flexible inelastic material, such as a fabric cord, the same beingenclosed by a covering 3 of rubber, said covering forming an unbrokencasing for said core. In manufacturin m limproved article a continuouslengt of1 core is coated with rubber in a tubing machine, in a mannersimilar lto that in which rubber insulated copper wire is made, andafter leavin said machine, the lacingsare cut the length, their endsthen vtapered 'to points by a rolling process or by dies, and thearticles then vulcanized to the',desired degree. Or, if desired, thetapermg may take lace before the cutting into lengths, i. e., t e rubbermay be ta red down to the thickness oli the embed ed thread, after whichthe cutting 'to' desired length will require only the cutting of thefabric cord.

In Figures 4 to 8 I have shown a slightly flattened faces, the sameserving to prevent the lacing from slipping and untying when in use, asreadily will be understood. In said modified construction, the referencenumeral 7 denotes the rubber covering, and

8 a pluralityof fabric cords, the saine being shown as three in number,laid side by side betterto obtain the flattened configuration.

My im roved article can be manufactured to be sol at a. comparativelylow price, and will give more than ordinary service. A further advantageis that it'can be made in any color desired, and if it should becomesoiled in use, all dirt and discoloration can be removed with littleeffort by the means of a damp cloth, this advantage being of particularimportance in connection with white or lother light colored shoe laces.Furthermore, when a shoe is tightly laced there -will be suflicientcushioning effect in my lacing to permitof some elasticity, thus addingto the comfort of the wearer. A shoe lacing having a rubber coveringmade of one piece with the ends rolled or formed to points obviouslywill possess an advantage over a lacing with attached ends, in thatthere will be no possible danger'of the ends becoming detached, as iscommon with lacings now in A use. Still another advantage is found inthe fact that the rubber covering efiectually will prevent any shrinkageof the lacing when used in wet weather. v

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is :-l

; 1. A' shoe lacin embodying a flexible, inelastic core, an a. coveringof rubber extending the entire length of said core and tapered at itsends. l

2. A shoe lacing, embodying a flexible inelastic core, and a coverin ofrubber extending the entire length-o said core, the covering at the endsof the lacing being shaped to points.

3. A shoe lacing, embodyin a' flexible inelastic core, and a covering orubber extending the entire length of said core, said covering bein ythroughout its ength and formed with ribs disposed at an angle to itslength. L

4. A shoe lacing, embodying a flexible flattened substantially inelasticcore, and a covering of rubber extending the entire length of said core,and rolled or formed to points at its ends, said covering beingflattened substantially throughout its length and formed with ribsdisposed at an angle to its length.

`5. The method of forming shoe lacings,

which consists in applying to a flexible inelastic core a coverino orubber extending the entire length of t e same, then cutting 10 the sameinto lengths suitable for lacings, then tapering the ends of saidlengths, and finally suitably vulcanizing said lengths.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature.

THOMAS W., MILLER.

